Planooraph co



R. P. MASS.

STATION INDICATOR FOR RAILWAY CARS.

APPLICATION men APR. 11. 1911. Patented July 15, 1919.

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APPLICATION FILED APR II, 191?.

1,31 0,36 1. Patented July 15, 1919.

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CLII-I'WASHINGATON, D. C.

' permanent way.

UNITED STATE$ RAOUL I. MASS, OF HAWTHORN, MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA.

STATION -INDICATOR FOR RAILWAY-CARS.

Application filed April 11, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, R-AoUL PETER Mass, a subject of the King of Spain, and a resident of the city of Hawthorn, asuburb of the city of Melbourne, in the county of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, (whose post-oilice address is 27 Morang road, in the said city of Hawthorn,) have invented a certain new and useful Improved Station-Indicator for Railway-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

The object of. this invention is to automatically provide a visible indication to the occupants of railway cars as to what the next station on the line upon which they are traveling will be, thereby preventing passengers overrumiing their destinations. The invention is particularly useful when traveling at night and consists broadly in arranging a series of indicating mechanisms in desired positions in the cars and actuating said mechanisms through electric connections from operating rails situated on the Further features of the invention will be disclosed in the accon1 panying description and drawings.

Referring to the drawings which form apart of this specification Figure l is a side elevation of an operating rail.

Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale a front elevation of a rocking lever the roller of which presses against the operating rail. In dotted lines the rocking lever is shown in its extreme right hand position. Electric connections between the rocking lever and the indicating mechanisms are illustrated diagrammatically.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the rocking lever and its appurtenances.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional side view of an indicating mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4 and with the back of the casing removed.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of an elbow piece, and parts connected therewith.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of a diverter and its pivot pin showing a spring whereby the diverter is normally held down.

The invention includes operating rails seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. These rails are preferably disposed one at each side of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

Serial No. 161,332.

track to allow for reversal of the cars, but may be arranged at the center thereof in which case only a single rail will be necessary. The operating rails are arranged at or near the outgoing end of each station and A com-prise ramps or inclined planes 2 between which is a horizontal surface 3 the length of which will depend upon circumstances. The rails have a web 4 which may be attached by tie bolts 6 to the track rails 7. Flanges 8 are also provided to secure the operating rails to the sleepers 9.

In conjunction with the operating rails a circuit closing mechanism is used which comprises a casing 11, the flanges 12 of which are secured to extensions 13 from the axle box of one of the cars or the engine. Mounted in bearings 1 1 carried by the casing is a pivot pin 16 upon which is pivotally mounted a: rocking lever 17. The rocking lever carries at its lower end a pin or axle 18 carrying a roller 19 which engages the operating rails. Protruding from the upper end of the rocking lever is a tappet pin 21 around which is an insulating sleeve 22 which is preferably capable of freely rotating about the tappet pm.

A coiled spring 23 is attached at its upper end to the casing and at its lower end to the top of the rocking-lever.

Extending from the side walls of the easing 11 are insulating blocks 26 to which are fixed the upper ends of spring contact blades 27 and 28. The lower ends of these blades are free and one blade of each pair may be provided with a contact point 29.

Arranged in any suitable position on the car is a battery indicated at 31 to which are connected forward circuit wires 32 and reverse circuit wires 33. The forward circuit wires 32 lead from the battery to the spring contact blades 27 where the circuit is broken while the free ends of the blades are apart. From the contact blades 27 the forward circuit wires lead to a. switch contact plate 34 then through a switch arm 36 to the forward electric magnets 37 of the indicating mechanisms hereinafter referred to and from there back to the battery.

The reverse circuit wires 33 lead from the battery to the spring contact blades 28 then to the switch contact plate 38 and through the switch. arm 39, which is insulated from the switch arm 56, to the r verse electromagnets 41 and from there back to the battery.

The switch arms 36 and 39 are actuated by a common operating lever 42.

The indicating mechanism is shown in Figs. 4 and Any desired number of these mechanisms may be used one being situated in each compartment of the cars or in any other required positions. Each of said in dicating mechanisms is connected through its electro-magnets with a forward and a reverse circuit. The mechanism is housed in a casing 43 which may be attached to the wall of a compartment or in any other suitable place where it can be easily observed by passengers.

Mounted in bearings in the casing is a driving shaft 44. Loosely mounted on the driving shaft is a rocking arm 46 the lower end of which is connected by a lower coiled spring 47 to the casing or extensions there from. The upper end of the rocking arm has attached to it a sleeve 48. Within the sleeve and attached to the upper end of the rocking arm is an upper coiled spring 49 to the upper end of which is attached the lower end of an elbow piece 51. This elbow piece extends upwardly and backwardly as seen in Fig. 4 and is provided with a prism shaped portion or to'oth 52 from which protrudes an extension 53 carrying a roller 54.

Protruding from the casing are pivot pins 56 upon which are pivoted diverters 57. These diverters are provided with inner and outer curved faces. Around each of the pivot pins 56 is a coiled spring 58 one end of which is secured to the diverter and the opposite end to the pivot pin as shown in Fig. 7. These springs serve to hold the diverters in their normal downward position as in Fig. 5, the downward movement being limited by limit stops 61 extending from the casing.

Fixed to the driving shaft 44 is an inclicator driving wheel. 62 having teeth 63 between which are recesses 64 adapted to be engaged by the prism shaped portion 52 of the elbow piece. Mounted upon the driving shaft 44 is also a pinion 66 which meshes with a toothed wheel 67 mountedupon an indicator spindle 68. The indicator spindle passes through a false back 69 mounted in the front of the casing. To the front of the false back a circular dial 71 is attached. This dial has thenames of the various stations upon the line marked in consecutive order circumferentially or radially upon its face and is capable of being quickly removed and replaced or reversed. Mounted upon the indicator spindle 68 is a removable pointe 72. The front of the casing is closed by a glass door 73.

The invention operates as foi1ows:Assuming the train to be starting out from a station A for a destination B a dial bearing the names of all the stations along the line is inserted in each of the casings 43. As the train leaves the station A the roller 19 of the rocking lever encounters the operating rail and as it ascends the outgoing ramp the rocking lever is moved over until it reaches the position indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 2. As the rocking lever is moving to this position the insulating sleeve of the tappet pin 21 engages the forward contact blades 27 which are pressed together and close the circuits of the forward electromagnets 37. As seen in Fig. 2 the spring contact blades continue to move after first making contact thus allowing for any vertical displacen'ient of the car and assuring a positive contact. The circuits 32 being completed each forward electromagnet 37 becomes energized and its armature attracts the lower end of the rocking arm 46 the upper end of which carries the elbow piece and the roller 54 over to the right. As it does so the prism shaped portion or tooth 52 which is-in engagement with the uppermost recess of the driving wheel 62 carries the said wheel around one space to the right in Fig. 5. Therolle 54 is allowed to pass under the right hand diverter by reason of the spring 58 thereof. The movement of the driving wheel operates the gears 66 and 67 and moves the pointer over to indicate the first intermediate station upon the line. After the rocking lever has passed up over the outgoing ramp of the operating rail and as it descends on the opposite side, the spring 23 asserts itself and draws the rocking lever back into its normal vertical position. The spring contact blades 27 are then released by the tappet pin and the circuits of the electromagnets .37 are broken. The lower spring 47 of each indicating mechanism then asserts itself and draws the rocking arm 46 back into its normal vertical position. As the upper end of the rocking arm 46 moves backwardly the roller 54 ascends the outer curved face of the diverter 57 lifting the elbow piece and extending the spring 49. This lifts V the rocking lever encounters the operating rail at the next station and so on, the pointer continuing to move around in a right hand or clockwise dlrection one division at each station.

Under normal circumstances the rocking lever would, as it ascends the outgoing ramp on the return journey, close the reverse circuits 33 thereby energizing the reverse electromagnets 41 and causing the pointer to move backwardly to the left or in a contra-clockwise direction. To obviate this the switch lever 42 is moved over to bring the switch arm 36 into contact with the contact plate 38 and the switch arm 39 into contact with the plate 34. Now, as the rocking lever moves in the opposite direction on the return journey the spring contact blades 28 of the reverse circuits are closed. The current will now pass from the battery through the contact blades 28 to the contact plate 38 and then through the switch arm 36 to the forward electromagnets 37, the pointer being thus operated in a clockwise direction as before. On reaching the end of the line at B the dials are changed or reversed, the stations being arranged thereon in the opposite direction for the return journey. The reverse electromagnets i1 only come into operation when the train shunts or for some other reason goes backward at a station and passes over the operating rail in which case the reverse magnets draw the lower end of the rocking arm 46 over to the right in Fig. 5 thus moving their upper ends to the left and moving the pointer one division backward.

It will be evident from the foregoing that by slight alterations to the indicating mechanisms a series of reels carrying sheets on which the names of the stations are marked may be used in lieu of the dials and pointcrs described.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent .is:

1. In astation indicator for railway cars having forward and reverse contacts and a circuit closer; forward and reverse electromagnets, and a rocking arm disposed between and adapted to be attracted by either of said electro-magnets; the combination of an indicator driving wheel, means carried by said rocking arm for engaging and intermittently rotating said driving wheel in either direction under the influence of the respective electro-magnets, and means for disengaging said arm from the driving wheel and returning it to normal position independently of said wheel; said indicator being provided with a switch for electrically connecting the forward or reverse electromagnet with a source of electrical energy for the purpose set forth.

2. In a station indicator for railway cars having an electric circuit including a battery, forward and reverse contacts, a circuit closer operated from the track and adapted to engage said contacts on forward and backward travel of the car respectively;

an indicating mechanism comprising forward and reverse electro-ma-gnets electrically connected to said forward and reverse contacts respectively, and a rocking arm disposed between and adapted to be attracted by either of said electro-magnets; the combination of an indicator driving wheel, means carried by said rocking arm for engaging and intermittently rotating said driving wheel in either direction under the influence of the respective electro-magnets, and means for disengaging said arm from the driving wheel and returning it to normal position independently of said wheel said indicator being provided with a switch for connecting the forward electro-magnet with the reverse Contact, and the reverse electro-magnet with the forward cont-act, for the purpose set forth.

3. In indicating mechanism having forward and reverse electro-magnets adapted to be automatically energized and deenergized by track controls; a rocking arm operated by said electro maguets, and means for re turning said arm to normal position; the combination of an elbow piece connected to the said arm, a spring connected to the elbow piece and arm, an indicating driving wheel operated by said elbow piece, an indicator and means for operating said indicator from i the driving wheel.

4. In indicating mechanism having electro-magnets, a rocking arm operated by said electro-magnets, and means for returning said arm to normal position; the combination of a member connected to the said arm, a driving wheel operated by sa d member, diverters arranged at each side of said member whereby the rocking arm is returned to normal position independently of the driving wheel, an indicator, and means for operating said indicator from the driving wheel.

5. In indicating mechanism having forward and reverse electromagnets adapted to be automatically energized and deenergized from the track, a rocking arm operated by said electro-magnets, and means for returning said arm to normal position; the combination of an elbow piece connected to the said arm, a spring connected to the elbow piece and arm, an indicating driving wheel operated by said elbow piece, diverters arranged at each side of said elbow piece whereby the rocking arm is returned to normal position independently of the driving wheel, an indicator spindle, means for driving said spindle from the driving wheel, a pointer carried by said spindle, and a dial behind said pointer.

6. In a sta n indicator for cars having a forward and a reverse electro-magnet, a rocking arm between the electro-magnets, and a spring to hold said rocking arm in normal position; the combination of a sleeve surrounding the upper end of said rocking arm, an elbow piece depending into said sleeve, a spring connected to the said rocking arm and to the said elbow piece, a tooth on said elbow, a driving wheel engaged by said tooth, and indicating means operated by said driving wheel.

7. In a station indicator having circuit closers carried by a car and means on the track for shifting said circuit closers, and

, indicating means on the car comprising electro-magnet circuits including said electromagnets with said circuit closers; the combination of a rocking arm between the electro-magnets, a spring to hold said rocking arm in normal position, a sleeve surrounding the upper end of said rocking arm, a spring connected to the upper end of said rocking arm, an elbow piece depending into said sleeve and connected to the said spring, a tooth on said elbow, a driving wheel engaged by said tooth, diverters arranged at either side of said elbow, a roller on said elbow between the diverters, a dial, and a pointer driven from said driving wheel.

8. In indicating means having a casing, forward and reverse electro-magnets; a driving shaft mounted in the casing, a rocking arm loosely mounted upon said driving shaft and having its lower end adapted to be attracted by the elcctro-magnets, and a spring connecting the lower end of said rocking arm with the casing, the combination of an elbow piece connected to the upper end of said arm; a driving wheel mounted on said driving shaft, a triangular shaped tooth on the elbow piece, said tooth being adapted to engage between the teeth of the driving wheel, a roller carried by the elbow piece, spring controlled diverters arranged at each side of said roller, limit stops engaging said diverters, a pinion on said driving wheel, a toothed wheel engaging said pinion, and in dicating means driven by said toothed wheel.

9. In indicating means having a casing, forward and reverse electro-magnets therein, a driving shaft mounted in the casing, a rocking arm loosely mounted upon said driving shaft and having its lower end adapted to be attracted by the electro-magnets, a spring connecting the lower end of said rocking arm; the combination of the casing, a sleeve surrounding the upper end of said rocking arm, an upper spring connected to the end of the rocking arm, an elbow piece connected to the upper end of said spring within the sleeve, a driving wheel mounted on said driving shaft, a triangular shaped tooth on the elbow piece, said tooth being adapted to engage between the teeth of the driving wheel, a roller carried by the elbow piece, spring controlled diverters arranged at each side of said roller, said diverters having inner and outer curved faces, limit stops engaging said inner faces, a pinion on said driving wheel, a toothed wheel engaging said pinion and indicating means driven by said toothed wheel.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

RAOUL P. MASS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

